Always With Me

Part 15- Ellie Harmon

 I got home from church with so much joy erupting inside of me that I was unable to take a Sunday afternoon nap like I usually did. Dahlia went to spend the rest of the day with Becca and I decided to come home to get some things done around the house. Dahlia had done enough around the house lately that she has been fairly easy to live with. Although she'd been moody due to her pregnancy hormones and her being just typical Dahlia, she has been a great guest. I was even happier when she agreed to go with my family to church. She didn't seem too excited when she got there, but I refuse to give up. Becca seemed to have liked Annie a lot, and I prayed that I would soon be able to see God do amazing works in Becca's life. She seemed to be more open to allowing that to happen, so I was very pleased.

        I ate a quick lunch and then hopped back into my bed, allowing myself finally to go to sleep. I woke up a while later and finished some homework before I headed back to church that night. On Sunday night church, there wasn't usually a large crowd. I sat down on an empty pew and waited for more youth to come into the sanctuary. I began playing on my phone impatiently, waiting on someone else to come. I felt someone sit beside me, and I looked up to see who it was. It was Sam Johnson, a boy a year younger than me in our youth group. He had dark blond hair and big brown eyes. He was about six feet one and wore a pair of faded jeans and a brown button down shirt.

         "Hey," I said, looking around for Leighton or Jane Kathryn. Neither of them ever missed on Sunday nights.

        "Hey," he answered back. "How are you?"

        "Pretty stressed right now, but I'm not complaining. What about for you?" I asked, running my fingers nervously over my Bible. Sam has always made me nervous. He always had a joyful glow to him, even though he wasn't the most outgoing person that I knew.

        "It's been going great for me," he began. He paused, but continued on to what he was about to say. "I heard about your friend. I am so sorry."

        I felt my heart sink. I hadn't realized that the news about Dahlia had already begun to spread, but I knew that eventually someone was going to find out and tell.

        "I'm sorry about it too. I wish I could do something for her, but there is nothing that I can do." He seemed to be absorbing everything that I was saying as we sat alone in our pew. There were more people in the room, but Sam and I were alone in the youth section.

        "I can see that you are doing all that you can do. I am praying for her."

        The preacher began to preach, and Leighton and Jane Kathryn were nowhere to be seen. The preacher spoke of joy.

        "In life, there are many things that attempt to destroy us. That is why we should choose the route that leads to joy, not happiness, because joy can withstand the hard times while happiness can be taken away from you," my preacher Greg Stephens said as we began the sermon. I began thinking about the sermon and the difference between happiness and joy when my mind wandered to the thought of Dahlia as a mother. I began to wonder about her education and where she was going to live after her baby came, even though I knew that her mom was coming home. I wanted for Dahlia to receive the joy that the preacher was speaking of because as soon as she found out that she was pregnant, her entire world was shaken and her happiness was stripped from her.

        I found that joy long ago, which was the only reason that I have been able to keep my head in all of the things that have happened since my senior year began. When I accepted Jesus Christ at the age of eight years old, I found that joy. It has been shaken, but somehow it has withstood a lot of the monsters that have attempted to destroy it. One of my favorite verses was James 1:2-3.

"Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

        The rest of the sermon was on joy, and the ending prayer dismissed us from the sanctuary. I was picking up my things to leave when Sam stopped me.

         "What can I pray for you about?" he asked, sliding his phone into his back pocket.

        I thought my answer through for a while before I finally answered him. "I need for you to pray for my joy throughout all of this. I am so scared that I won't be able to pull through for Dahlia. Pray that I will do all that I can for her."

        He nodded, said Goodbye, and then walked away to leave. I stood in my spot, astonished that he would ask what I needed praying for. He hadn't really spoken to me much, so this conversation was very strange for us. I smiled to myself as I hopped into my car and traveled home. My parents beat me there and we ate dinner with just the three of us. Dahlia was still at Becca's.

        "How was your day?" my dad asked as we ate our supper. My mom had been cooking a roast since this morning, so we were eating roast and baked potatoes.

         "I had a great day. Dahlia and Becca went to church with me this morning," I answered, taking a bite of the baked potato.

         "We saw that. I am so happy that they went. I know that means a lot to you," my mom said. She'd been praying for Dahlia and Becca almost as much as I had, so I wasn't surprised that she was excited for them. Our white kitchen seemed huge with just the three of us again, but I was enjoying time with my family. I felt like that had changed some since Dahlia moved in.

        "It does mean a lot. I think Becca seemed to like Annie," I answered.

        "Who doesn't like Annie? She is great. She connects with young people so well. David too. You girls are so lucky to have her," my mom said,

        "I agree," my dad mumbled as he salted his roast. He had on a suit and tie, and his salt and pepper hair was cut away from his face. My mom was sitting beside him with her short brown haircut and a red blouse.

        "She, David, and Natalie make the cutest family. I had Natalie in the nursery a few weeks ago, and she was so sweet. I am so glad that they moved back to Amory."

         We finished our meal and I went back to my room. I was laying on my bed when I heard my phone buzzing beneath me. I pulled it out and had a text from an unknown number. I slid the message and read it.

        I am very glad that we talked. I prayed for your friend, and I prayed for you. We should get together sometime and talk. Sam.

         I reread the message a few times before I finally texted back.

         I would love that. I really appreciate your prayers. They are needed very much right now. Thanks for everything. And we can get together soon.

        Dahlia walked into my room after a while and we went to sleep. She looked exhausted, and I could tell that she wanted to sleep before we could have a conversation about her day. I said a quick prayer and then fell asleep, finally able to sleep through the night for the first time in three months.

        I woke up the next morning to the sound of a hair dryer. Dahlia was awake and ready before I even got out of bed. She seemed to be in a very good mood this morning, though I wasn't sure why.

        "Get up! It's our last week of school before Christmas holiday!" It was also finals week, but I didn't want to mention that. I got out of bed and began getting ready. I got to school a little later than usual, but I walked into the classroom and sat down at my front desk. We did review for the final on Wednesday and I attempted to keep my mind off of Sam and Dahlia and Becca and on the test.